The Old Master Painter Explained

The Old Master Painter
Published:	1949
Composer:	Beasley Smith
Lyricist:	Haven Gillespie

"The Old Master Painter" is a song composed by Beasley Smith with lyrics by Haven Gillespie about a spiritual rendering of a sunset which evokes God. Published in 1949, it has since been recorded by many different artists, including Jackie Paris, Richard Hayes, Dick Haymes, Frank Sinatra, Snooky Lanson, Peggy Lee, Phil Harris and Mel Tormé.

In 1966, the Beach Boys recorded the song as "My Only Sunshine" in medley with "You Are My Sunshine" during sessions for their unfinished concept album Smile.

The recording by Peggy Lee with Mel Tormé and the Mellomen, released in 1949, can be heard on the Internet Archive^[1]

Sources

• Book: Badman, Keith. The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. registration. 2004. Backbeat Books. 978-0-87930-818-6.
• Book: Furia. Philip. American song lyricists, 1920-1960. 2002. Gale Group. Detroit. 9780787660093.
• Book: Giddins. Gary. Weather Bird : Jazz at the Dawn of Its Second Century: Jazz at the Dawn of Its Second Century. registration. 2004. Oxford University Press. 9780195348163.

Notes and References

1. Web site: "The Old Master Painter" recording (Peggy Lee with Mel Tormé and the Mellomen, 1949), at Internet Archive. Internet Archive. 2020-03-21.